Kaiserhoff set to open 2000 season

NEW ULM -- The New Ulm Kaiserhoff opens its 2000 season on Friday when they travel to Le Sueur for a non-league game.

The "K" will play at Milroy on Wednesday, May 31 before opening their home season on Friday, June 2 when they entertain Victoria.

And this looks to be another strong season for the "K", who returns the majority of the players from last year. The only two not expected back are catcher Kurt Moelter and outfielder Ethan Anderson.

But outside of that the Kaiserhoff looks a like a heavy favorite to return to the state tournament, which will be played this year in Sleepy Eye and Fairfax.

Manager Tom Steinbach said that he returns first basman Brady Ranweiler with Steinbach, Brad Keenan and Tony Hanten seeing some action there. Ranweiler is hitting the cover off of the ball for Minnesota State-Mankato. Lee Brandel will assume some of the catching duties for the departed Moelter.

At second base, Ryan Ellwein returns. Ellwein will also see some action at shortstop. Keenan and Cory Ranweiler will probably split some time at third base.

Landon Rathmann, Adam Dittrich, Steinbach and Lance Buck will patrol the outfield.

The pitching staff also returns quality arms, with left-hander Aaron Heitzman tabbed as New Ulm's ace. Right-handers John Spaeth, Jared Visker, Keenan and Tom Steinbach round out the returning mound staff.

There are also some "new" players on the Kaiserhoff team this year, with the big names being Terry Steinbach and Brian Raabe.

"Terry will do some catching and will also throw some," said Tom Steinbach. "Brian will play either second or shortstop, depending on the situation."

MLC second baseman Aaron Dolan is also in the picture.

There may be some more players added to the Kaiserhoff in the near future.

STEINBACH'S RETURN HAS MADE NEWS: The return of Terry Steinbach and Brian Raabe to play for the Kaiserhoff this year has made news not only in this area but around the country.

ESPN.COM ran a story on Terry and Brian on May 17, talking about them both coming back to play "town ball."

A couple of lines from the story are, "Minnesota town ball is baseball at it simpliest level. There is no salary. There is no meal money. There are no charterd planes and hotel suites. It is played for no other reason then the love of the game."

It then concludes, "After playing in Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park ... dressing alongside McGwire and Canseco, he returns to play amid the cornfields of Minnesota where he started playing ball."

Tom has also received telephone calls from Atlanta and Chicagp regarding Terry's return to New Ulm to play baseball. "Terry and I will be on a conference call (tomorrow) on an Atlanta radio station. Also, the Chicago (Tribune) newspaper called regarding why Terry is playing town team baseball. They seem to think it is a good story. We have gotten two calls from an Atlanta (radio) station and one from a Chicago radio station."

Tom knows that Terry and Brian's return is big news. "When they (Terry and Brian) will play in New Ulm, we will let people know. That has been discussed by all of us. The dates that they commit to, they will be here."

PERKINS ON TUESDAY: If you were at Fairfax Tuesday night for the Saints' game, you saw KARE's Eric Perkins and his Perk at Play. You can watch it again Tuesday night at 10:15 p.m. and see him sumo wrestle.

BREWERS AT SEARLES: The New Ulm Brewers will try to make it a 4-0 start today when they travel to Searles for a 1 p.m. contest. The Brewers are playing well and it will be a nice day to support your local amateur baseball team.

A reminder to all managers to call in your scores between 4:30 and 5:30 if you have an afternoon game. Night games should be called in the next day after 3 p.m.

CHARGERS NAME NEW GIRLS COACH: David Biedenbender is the new Minnesota Valley Lutheran head girls basketball coach.

Biedenbender, who comes to MVL from Overland Park, Kan., replaces John Barenz, who will start a Lutheran high shool near Denver. No replacement has been named for Barenz' assistant, Andy Neuman, who will be a teacher's aid and go to graduate school in Colorado.